Chapter 82

75. Scandal

'Oh Maaji, I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you finally well and returning to us. I just cannot tell you how happy we are, nahi ji?’ Mrs. Ojha elbowed her husband who was pushing the wheel-chaired Karuna out of the hospital.

‘Yes, yes very happy. Maaji, we weren’t able to sleep at nights thinking about you.’ Mr.Ojha said.

Kirti, who had gone to book a taxi met them at the gate. Mayank was back after collecting medicines and helped lift Karuna into the taxi. Kirti climbed inside after Ammaji. Mayank and Mr.Ojha followed them on Mayank’s bike.

‘Are you comfortable Dadi?’ Kirti asked.

Karuna nodded before closing her eyes and leaning back in the seat. 

Mrs.Ojha’s and Kirti’s eyes met for a moment and the former looked away first. Kirti, herself turned to the window and looked outside. 

The reprieve was too short-lived!

As much as she was happy to see Dadi awake, a little part of her resented that she had to stretch the marriage drama for some more time. Even before she could have revealed anything to Karuna, Mr.Ojha had beat her at it. He had broken the news of their marriage and had announced he was taking Karuna home after discharge. 

Mayank had already informed them that they were headed for a divorce. Why then?

Because she didnt want to risk sending Karuna into another stroke, she had to go along with the drama with a smile on her face. She also had to go with the lie, because she couldn’t shift Karuna to Lily’s place. It wasn’t a house fit for a sick person. Now, other worries assailed her that she had yet to serve her notice period at the coaching centre. How would she manage taking care of Dadi? Biplab could return only after his term-end papers. 

She will have to employ maids. 

When they reached home, she found that the room that opened into the verandah had cleared for them. It had a bathroom attached to it, and Kirti was struck by Ojhas thoughtfulness. Did they change for better?

For the first few days of Karuna’s arrival, Mrs.Ojha visited their room every day to chat with the old-woman.

Mr.Ojha and Mayank would also often drop in to ask about her health.

Kirti was suspicious at their display of concern and could not  bring herself to trust any of their words. She was just counting her days here. Once, she was going to crack the exam, she was leaving the place with Dadi.

XxxX

‘What is this Ravi Bhaiyya? Have you not been looking at her notebooks?’

Radha’s notebook was filled with cross marks and incomplete remarks.

‘All this padhai-sadhai goes above my head,’ Ravi answered.

‘But Bhaiyya this way, she’d fail her class! Uff! Radha, have you not been studying at all?’ Kirti asked, really concerned about her.

Radha stood before her with her hands folded back. Even her hair and clothes were disordered.

It was useless to scold the girl. ‘Go and get me a comb first!’ She ordered.

‘Aapne pura bigad diya Bhaiyya!’ At first Kirti had been hesitant and scared to approach Ravi. The guy had spent years in jail. But when she saw him around, with his hair mussed up, sitting in the verandah trimming his beard and mustache; or repairing a cooler, he looked human. He still joked around her despite sensing her fear. Even though he had always been money minded, and scheming ways to dupe people of their money, he had been a big brother to her. Most of the local guys had steered clear from her path because he had declared her as sister.

But then she couldn’t go by looks or past, could she? She never knew what new scheme he was devising?

‘She’s been with me only for two weeks!’ He said.

‘I don’t know what kind of songs you’ve been listening to. I heard her singing something like badan mera gila gila..2 weeks and you spoiled her.’

‘Hello? I don’t listen to songs! It’s your husband.’

Radha had come with a comb and Kirti directed all her attention to the girl; first she braided her hair, thereafter arranging the pleats of her skirt. The whole time she kept teaching how homework should be respected.

Ravi watched them with an odd expression making Kirti self-conscious. 

XxxX

Kirti had picked up her phone to search for a term when she saw Manisha had messaged. She opened the text. It said, 

‘Did you see the news?’

Then she had sent two links. The news headline shocked her to the core.

ED raids businessman Dharmesh Prakash’s premises and FORSES office in connection with the XYZ scam.  It had  filed a money laundering case against Dharmesh Prakash and his son, Navyam Prakash earlier this month.

Breaking News : Enforcement Directorate summons MD of FORSES, detains CFO Nishit Aggarwal. 

Nishit Aggarwal, Son of prominent economist Vaibhav Aggarwal detained in a money laundering case.

Reading through the articles, she didn’t understand the minute details but gathered that Dharmesh Prakash’s company had been illegally making money - there had been a CBI case filed against the duo last year and their names had also emerged in some scam and Nishit by virtue of being the CFO had been embroiled. 

She tried calling Prasanna but her phone was off. She tried Nishit’s number, and as expected it was switched off.

She quickly googled his name and fair enough, he was trending. 

XxxX

‘Saala sab amir aadmi log hum log ka mehnat ka paisa ghapla karte rehta hai,’ Ravi remarked as the four panelists dissected Nishit’s history. He was under more fire perhaps because of his family’s political affiliation.

They had his picture of going  inside ED’s office playing continuously. While the anchor  screeched about the rich Indians squandering away common man’s taxes.

They had a stupid poll running as well. How many of you believe Dharmesh and Aggarwal would flee to a foreign country much like their predecessors?

There was a twitter drive as well. #cleanthecorporatesystem #punishcorporatethiefs

They were assassinating his character and his family’s character.

Kirti marched and switched off the television from the main switch.

'What are you looking at me? Ohh. You must be thinking Ulta Chor Chor Ko Dante?' [Pot calling kettle black?]

'But my dear sister, your brother here committed a crime. He was sentenced to jail. He served five years of imprisonment. I did a fraud of some thousand rupees. But these guys here are involved in scams worth crores and billions! What do you think will happen to them? Nothing. They will fly off to some foreign land where they will be treated with utmost hospitality.'

'I don't know about others but Nishit is innocent.' 

'Agar main yeh bolta toh toh koi baat bhi thi. Bhai hua mera woh. Tu kis rishte se side le rahi hai uska?' Ravi asked.

'Apka bhai hai?' Ravi had lost a nut or two in the jail, Kirti was sure.

'Abey Haan. Mausera! Suna nahi hai? Chor-Chor Mausere Bhai.'

'Kuch bhi? And stop calling him a thief.' Kirti rolled her eyes. 'Go and find someone else, Bhaiyya.'

'Fine...Fine... But how do you know this guy?'

'We used to be in the same class. He is my friend.' 

'I wish someone had supported me the same way irrespective of my involvement. People had shunned me even before my crime had been proved.' 

'Bhaiyya, you earn support through your conduct. He's always been there for his people without fail. I am only reciprocating that.' 

'No, he's merely lucky he has you. Anyway, all this friendship is alright but while supporting your friend don't lose sight of your husband.'  He had seen his brother with a woman entering a restaurant the previous evening while Kirti was under the assumption he was shooting outdoors. 

Kirti, not liking where the conversation was headed, disappeared from the room.

XxxX

Kirti did not know how to help him.

She was furious at the comments people had left below the video clipping of a news article. If she as a third party was getting affected so much by it, how was he coping with all of this? Did he have the support and trust of his close ones?

Nishit, she began typing a text.

I know you must not feel like talking to anyone but I wanted to tell you...

I believe you. 

This media circus might seem like never-ending but this too shall pass, Nishit. 

Don't think you are alone. I am just a call away.

Sending you loads of strength. 

It was two weeks and a half later that she received an acknowledgement. 

'Thnx'

XxxX

Kusingh :  @Midnight_Boy @Ranjan  Hello Sir,  NBI prelims results came out and I made it. Thank you for your free and timely guidance.

Admin : @kusingh Congratulations!

Debonair : @kusingh Congo! Can you share your preparation strategy?

To: midnightboy

From: kusingh

Hi Sir,

I haven’t seen you on the forum for a while so thought I would drop you a mail. Are you well? NBI preliminary exam results were released a week ago. I made it. I wanted to thank you for your guidance.

Sir, I also wanted to ask would it be wise to take up a crash course now or should I continue with my own preparation?

Regards

KU Singh

From : midnightboy

To : kusingh

Mr.Singh,

Many congratulations on your first step towards success.

I am well. Thanks for your concern.

Crash course would eat up both your time and money. I advise you to continue with your preparation as before. In doubt, consult the coaching materials which are easily available online for free.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to share my experience and guidance any more due to time constraints.

All the best for the upcoming exams. Wishing you a bright future. 

-

MidnightBoy

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